FERAL CATS & RABIES
What to do if you get a bite or scratch
Some basic facts on rabies and cats:
1. The incidence of known rabies cases in cats is low (270 cases in the United
States in 2001.)
2. Most cases of rabies in cats come from areas (such as the Northeast) where there
are large raccoon populations – raccoons are a vector species for rabies and can
pass the virus onto cats. So are bats, skunks and certain other animals.
3. Over the past several years, there have been no more than a few reports of
rabies in cats in New York City.
4. There have been no known cases of rabies in humans from cats in the United
States since at least 1975.
How the rabies virus spreads:
a. Exposure: An animal with an active case of rabies can spread it through their
saliva, so it can be transmitted by a bite, scratch or if the infected saliva
touches the eye, nose or mouth.
b. Incubation: Once the rabies virus enters an animal’s system, it incubates for
30 to 90 days on average, during which time the virus travels to the brain. An
animal is NOT contagious and cannot transmit the virus during the incubation
period.
c. Shedding (contagious stage): Once the virus reaches the brain, it also travels
to the salivary glands and can be transmitted. At the start of this acute phase,
the animal may appear normal yet be contagious. Sometime within ten days
of the start of this acute, contagious stage, the animal will show signs of
rabies, including acting vicious or aggressive, or seeming sick, shy, tired or
dazed. It’s important to understand symptoms may vary and there is no single
type of behavior or set of symptoms which a rabid animal will demonstrate.
What to do if you are bit, scratched or otherwise exposed to the saliva of a feral cat:
A. If the cat is confined after exposure:
1. Clean out the wound thoroughly.
2. If the bite or scratch draws blood, or if the saliva touches your eyes, nose or
mouth, seek immediate medical attention. Your doctor may prescribe
antibiotics to prevent common bacterial infections (which are especially
caused by cat bites and can be serious) and may recommend other
treatment as well.
3. If the cat is confined, it is usually not necessary to immediately start on a
course of rabies prophylaxis, although your decision should be made in
consultation with your medical doctor. In many cases, it is sufficient to
quarantine the cat – keeping him away from other animals or people - for
10 days. Consult a veterinarian or other qualified professional regarding
quarantining the cat.
4. If the cat dies or shows signs of ill health or rabid behavior during the 10day quarantine period, contact a public health official or veterinarian to see
if testing for rabies or other diseases is required. If you are uncertain
whether the cat is showing symptoms, consult with a public health official
or veterinarian and do not try to determine on your own whether testing is
needed. Testing for rabies will require euthanasia if the cat is alive.
5. If the tests show the animal had rabies, then treatment for possible
exposure to rabies is normally required. Consult your medical doctor in
making this decision.
6. If the cat remains healthy after the 10-day quarantine period, the cat was
not shedding the rabies virus at the time of exposure and normally no
treatment of the person is required. This determination, too, should be
made in consultation with a veterinarian or qualified professional. If the
cat had no wounds of unknown origin when captured, he can be released.
If any wounds of unknown origin were present, further confinement may
be required by law. Consult your veterinarian or public health official to
make this determination.
REMEMBER! CONSULT A PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL OR
VETERINARIAN in determining whether the cat has remained healthy
during the quarantine period, whether treatment of the person is
required and whether the cat should be released.
B. If the cat is not confined after exposure:
1. Clean out the wound thoroughly.
2. If the bite or scratch draws blood, or if the saliva touches your eyes, nose or
mouth, seek immediate medical attention.
3. CONSULT YOUR MEDICAL DOCTOR to determine whether you should
undergo a course of rabies prophylaxis treatment as a preventative measure.
Information in this fact sheet on how the rabies virus spreads and what to do if you are
bitten, scratched or exposed to saliva has been derived in part from the brochure on
“Animal Rabies” published by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division
of Epidemiology and Immunization, 2003.